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Rockarchive Goes to Glastonbury

Tick-a-tape explosion before Biffy Clyro come on stage

The fine weather made a huge difference of course, but it wasn't only lack of mud that made this year's Glastonbury festival sublime. If we add in all the millions of people who enjoyed the festival digitally as well as those actually there, I think the country (perhaps the world) needed Glastonbury to be extra special this year.

We are all so weary of shocking news, tragic news, and feelings of sadness, regret and anger, that a dose of undiluted joy, gaiety, love, hope and charity was never more needed by a body of humanity.

It is the integrity of the core product which endures. Glastonbury is above all a celebration of diversity and creativity in all its forms. So despite the inevitable commercialization, my impression was that that everyone - from the main stage performers to the first timers on the fringe, from the stage managers to the cleaners, from those residing in tent dormitories to those poshing it up in custom teepees - all had a really beautiful, dare I say, healing time. And we all squirreled away some happy memories for a rainy day.

I can only echo what Chrissie Hynde said as she left the Other Stage on Friday morning having opened the festival in great style: "Thank you (again) Michael and Emily Eavis!"

Open Mic performers in the Tee Pee Tent area

Rag 'n' Bone Man

Audience at the Holts watching the Jacksons & couple playing piano in the Healing field

Ed Sheeran

Nile Rogers & Chic make a lot of people happy on the Pyramid stage

Michael Eavis & Ruby Wax at Speakers Forum

The Pretenders on and off the Other Stage

Jeremy Corbyn with Billy Bragg behind him leaves the Left Field stage and an ecstatic audience

Lolo – Gitano Flamenco Astrolabe

Liam Gallagher on the Other Stage

Stormzy on the Other Stage

Foo Fighters on Pyramid Stage

The Lemon Twigs

Noel Gallagher at William’s Green, Ed Sheeren & his guitar, The RPM’s back stage Left Field.

Sacks of rubbish awaiting rubbish truck and sack of man awaiting consciousness

All photographs in this article are available as limited edition prints. Please contact Rockarchive at info@rockarchive.com or on 020 7267 4716 if you wish to purchase

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